Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly
LAND!
One can only hope that this is the most torturous and insufferable flight one will have to bear in one's life. Ever. Except on the flight back. Oh, there are ways of making it manageable, some of which I most likely cannot legally describe here. Yet, considering all the wonder and beauty and sunshine that awaits you, refrain from snapping your head around like a possessed Linda Blair in the Exorcist and malevolently cursing the impish and innocent 5 year old behind you, incessantly kicking your seat and screaming "Are we there YET??"
Although I have been led to believe otherwise, to me, the available public transit is more than adequate. After arriving and desiring to see and hear and smell the delights of my destination, I discovered that if what you wish is to travel from suburb to suburb or from landmark to any part of downtown, there are numerous convenient and available means at your disposal. For someone with my itinerary (Opera House, Taronga Zoo, and other must-sees for first timers), City Rail is headache and hassle free, easily accessible, with airport-like timetable monitors and knowledgeable staff; and for those who know exactly where and how they want to go, there are simple to use ticket machines. If you are really lucky, you will find yourself on one of the newest sparkling clean and pleasantly cool trains, complete with reversible cloth seats (love those!!) and programmed display screens to indicate the next stop, in addition to a verbal announcement. There remain some decrepit creaky and graffiti laden open-the window-to-get-air trains, but those are reserved for commuters heading into the CBD during rush hour. Or so it seems.
Just as accomodating for your daily excursions are the Sydney buses, if not more so, as long as you are well equipped with a timeline booklet and a bit of patience. Alternatively, you can ask any seasoned veteran bus driver, as I assume all of them are, because they always have the answers to my incessant questioning. I have yet to encounter either an unindulgent driver or squirming unhappy riders eager to get a move on. Typically, both the trains and buses are close to or on time ... and if not, they are frequent enough in busy areas that you will never want for a ride, or be stranded and standing there repeatedly and anxiously looking at your watch.
If, after much deliberation between bus and train timetables, you are still undecided (confused?) as to the hows and whens of reaching that hole-in-the-wall pub you are determined to find, as long as you have access to the internet, you might want to try the Transport Infoline. Not only does it tell you how to get from point A to point B, it gives the options of train, and bus, and ferry, and walking, at the exact times, and in meters. Sweet.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you like to walk on the wild side?? How about drive on the wrong side? If what you are looking for is not a leisurely picturesque stroll at the water's edge in any one of the many miles of dreamy coastline, but rather white knuckled flushed cheek blood rushing fun, take a driving lesson. Okay, perhaps I am being overly dramatic ... but exaggeration notwithstanding, this is a difficult endeavor indeed. Narrow roads, no turning on red lights, and roundabouts (!), not to mention constantly using the windshield wiper when trying to signal. Yes, the windshield is clean but I want to turn right!!
Depending on your length of stay and where you wish to go, renting a car is another option - just make sure you get lots of insurance. For starters, you can try truelocal, one localized search engine, useful for finding driving schools or fender repairs or windshield wiper replacements. After surviving an hour or two of lessons, if you still yearn to brave the streets on your own, Hertz, Thrifty, and Budget are three well known and comparable car rental agencies. Unless you are planning on wandering aimlessly, whereis.com.au will provide shortest, fastest, or toll-less driving directions if you know your starting and ending point.
Finally, if all else fails, "TAXI!"
LAND!
One can only hope that this is the most torturous and insufferable flight one will have to bear in one's life. Ever. Except on the flight back. Oh, there are ways of making it manageable, some of which I most likely cannot legally describe here. Yet, considering all the wonder and beauty and sunshine that awaits you, refrain from snapping your head around like a possessed Linda Blair in the Exorcist and malevolently cursing the impish and innocent 5 year old behind you, incessantly kicking your seat and screaming "Are we there YET??"
Although I have been led to believe otherwise, to me, the available public transit is more than adequate. After arriving and desiring to see and hear and smell the delights of my destination, I discovered that if what you wish is to travel from suburb to suburb or from landmark to any part of downtown, there are numerous convenient and available means at your disposal. For someone with my itinerary (Opera House, Taronga Zoo, and other must-sees for first timers), City Rail is headache and hassle free, easily accessible, with airport-like timetable monitors and knowledgeable staff; and for those who know exactly where and how they want to go, there are simple to use ticket machines. If you are really lucky, you will find yourself on one of the newest sparkling clean and pleasantly cool trains, complete with reversible cloth seats (love those!!) and programmed display screens to indicate the next stop, in addition to a verbal announcement. There remain some decrepit creaky and graffiti laden open-the window-to-get-air trains, but those are reserved for commuters heading into the CBD during rush hour. Or so it seems.
Just as accomodating for your daily excursions are the Sydney buses, if not more so, as long as you are well equipped with a timeline booklet and a bit of patience. Alternatively, you can ask any seasoned veteran bus driver, as I assume all of them are, because they always have the answers to my incessant questioning. I have yet to encounter either an unindulgent driver or squirming unhappy riders eager to get a move on. Typically, both the trains and buses are close to or on time ... and if not, they are frequent enough in busy areas that you will never want for a ride, or be stranded and standing there repeatedly and anxiously looking at your watch.
If, after much deliberation between bus and train timetables, you are still undecided (confused?) as to the hows and whens of reaching that hole-in-the-wall pub you are determined to find, as long as you have access to the internet, you might want to try the Transport Infoline. Not only does it tell you how to get from point A to point B, it gives the options of train, and bus, and ferry, and walking, at the exact times, and in meters. Sweet.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you like to walk on the wild side?? How about drive on the wrong side? If what you are looking for is not a leisurely picturesque stroll at the water's edge in any one of the many miles of dreamy coastline, but rather white knuckled flushed cheek blood rushing fun, take a driving lesson. Okay, perhaps I am being overly dramatic ... but exaggeration notwithstanding, this is a difficult endeavor indeed. Narrow roads, no turning on red lights, and roundabouts (!), not to mention constantly using the windshield wiper when trying to signal. Yes, the windshield is clean but I want to turn right!!
Depending on your length of stay and where you wish to go, renting a car is another option - just make sure you get lots of insurance. For starters, you can try truelocal, one localized search engine, useful for finding driving schools or fender repairs or windshield wiper replacements. After surviving an hour or two of lessons, if you still yearn to brave the streets on your own, Hertz, Thrifty, and Budget are three well known and comparable car rental agencies. Unless you are planning on wandering aimlessly, whereis.com.au will provide shortest, fastest, or toll-less driving directions if you know your starting and ending point.
Finally, if all else fails, "TAXI!"
posted by Jill at
3:44 PM
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